This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
